Bicycle Accident Attorney in Jupiter, FL — Fighting for Injured Cyclists Across Palm Beach County
Florida is one of the most dangerous states in the country for cyclists. Year after year, Florida ranks at or near the top of national bicycle fatality statistics — and Palm Beach County, with its active cycling communities along A1A, the Intracoastal, and the Legacy Trail, sees more than its share of serious bicycle accidents. If you or a loved one was struck by a vehicle while cycling, you have the right to pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages.
At Hughes and Barnard Law Firm, PA in Jupiter, FL, we represent injured cyclists and the families of cyclists killed in accidents throughout Palm Beach County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, and surrounding areas. Our attorneys have more than 75 years of combined personal injury experience and have recovered over $150 million for our clients. Howard M. Hughes — our managing partner and a former insurance adjuster — knows exactly how insurance companies evaluate bicycle accident claims, and he uses that insider knowledge to fight for maximum compensation on your behalf.
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Why Bicycle Accident Cases Are Different — and Why They Matter
Bicycle accidents are not treated the same as car accidents under Florida law — and that distinction directly affects how victims pursue compensation. Understanding the specific legal landscape for cyclists is critical to protecting your rights.
Florida’s PIP Insurance Does Not Cover Cyclists the Same Way
Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance — the no-fault system that covers basic medical expenses after a car accident regardless of fault — applies only to motor vehicle occupants. Bicycles are not motor vehicles under Florida law. This means that if you are struck by a car while cycling, you typically cannot use your own PIP coverage to pay your initial medical bills the way a driver could. Instead, injured cyclists must file a claim against the at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage directly — or use their own health insurance, uninsured motorist coverage, or other available insurance while the claim is pursued.
This creates an immediate financial burden for many accident victims, and it makes prompt legal representation even more important. Hughes and Barnard can help you navigate the insurance landscape from the first day.
Cyclists Face Unique Challenges in Proving Fault
When a car and a bicycle collide, there is a common and persistent bias: drivers sometimes claim the cyclist was at fault for being in the road, failing to signal, or riding erratically. Florida’s modified comparative negligence law — changed in 2023 — means that if you are found more than 50% at fault for the accident, you cannot recover damages at all. Insurance adjusters sometimes exploit this to minimize or deny legitimate cyclist claims.
Our attorneys investigate bicycle accidents thoroughly — reviewing police reports, surveillance footage, traffic signal data, witness statements, and physical evidence from the scene — to establish exactly what happened and who was responsible.
Injuries in Bicycle Accidents Are Typically Severe
A cyclist struck by a motor vehicle has virtually no protection. Unlike a driver surrounded by a steel frame and airbags, a cyclist absorbs the full force of impact. The injuries that result — traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, broken bones, road rash, and internal injuries — are typically far more severe than those in vehicle-to-vehicle collisions. The higher severity means higher medical costs, longer recovery periods, and a greater impact on the victim’s ability to work and live normally.
Hughes and Barnard evaluates not just your current medical expenses but the full long-term impact of your injuries — including future medical care, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages like pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Florida Bicycle Laws — and How They Affect Your Claim
Under Florida Statute 316.2065, bicycles have the same rights and duties on Florida roads as motor vehicles. Cyclists may ride on roadways, in bike lanes, and on shared paths. Drivers owe cyclists the same duty of care they owe to other motorists — and when they fail to exercise that duty, they are liable for the resulting harm. Key provisions relevant to bicycle accident claims:
Drivers must maintain a minimum of three feet of clearance when passing a cyclist — Florida's 'Safe Passing Law'
Cyclists riding at night must use a front white light visible from 500 feet and a rear red reflector
Cyclists in Florida age 16 and under are required to wear helmets. Adults are not — but lack of a helmet may be raised by the defense in negligence arguments, which is why legal representation matters
Cyclists may ride two abreast on roadways where it does not impede traffic, but single-file is required on shared-use paths in some jurisdictions
Cyclists are required to signal turns and obey all traffic control devices, just as drivers are
When a driver violates any of these statutes — runs a red light, fails to yield, opens a car door into a cyclist (dooring), or passes too closely — that statutory violation is evidence of negligence per se in a Florida personal injury claim.
Common Causes of Bicycle Accidents in Jupiter and Palm Beach County
- Distracted driving — drivers using phones while passing cyclists on A1A, US-1, or Indiantown Road
- Failure to yield at intersections — one of the most common causes of serious cyclist fatalities
- Dooring accidents — drivers opening car doors without checking for approaching cyclists, common in commercial corridors
- Rear-end collisions — particularly on rural two-lane roads and highway shoulders
- Unsafe passing — drivers passing cyclists without adequate clearance
- Drunk or impaired driving — Florida has consistently high DUI rates, and cyclists are especially vulnerable
- Poorly maintained roads — potholes, unmarked edges, debris, and missing lane markings that create hazards for cyclists and may give rise to government liability claims
What Compensation Is Available After a Bicycle Accident in Florida?
Injured cyclists in Florida can pursue compensation for:
- Medical expenses — emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, and future medical costs
- Lost wages — income lost during recovery and, for serious injuries, reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering — physical pain and emotional distress resulting from the accident and injury
- Property damage — the cost of replacing or repairing your bicycle and any other personal property damaged in the accident
- Loss of enjoyment of life — compensation for the ways the injury has diminished the quality and joy of daily living
- Wrongful death damages — if a family member was killed in a bicycle accident, the estate and surviving family members may pursue a wrongful death claim
AV-Rated Firm: Howard M. Hughes holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell — the highest available peer review rating for legal ability and ethical standards. Our firm has recovered over $150 million for injury victims throughout Florida.
Serving Cyclists Across Jupiter, Palm Beach County, and Southeast Florida
Hughes and Barnard Law Firm, PA represents bicycle accident victims throughout Jupiter, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Hobe Sound, Stuart, and all of Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties. If you were injured in a bicycle accident anywhere in our service area, call us for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Bicycle Accident Claims in Florida
What if I wasn't wearing a helmet — does that affect my claim?
Adults are not required by Florida law to wear helmets, and not wearing one does not automatically bar your recovery. However, the defense may attempt to argue that failure to wear a helmet contributed to the severity of your head injury. Our attorneys address this proactively by demonstrating the nature of your injuries and the circumstances of the crash.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim in Florida?
Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident (as of March 24, 2023 — HB 837). Missing this deadline bars you from recovering any compensation. Contact Hughes and Barnard as soon as possible after your accident to protect your rights.
What if the driver who hit me fled the scene?
Hit-and-run bicycle accidents are unfortunately common. Your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage — if you carry it on your auto policy — may provide compensation even though you were on a bicycle. Florida courts have generally held that UM coverage can apply to cyclists struck by unidentified or uninsured drivers. We investigate hit-and-run accidents aggressively and pursue every available avenue for compensation.
Can I still recover if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law (effective 2023), you can recover damages if you were less than 51% at fault. Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you can recover $80,000. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovery — which is why having an experienced attorney advocate for the correct fault allocation is so important.
Injured in a bicycle accident? We’ll fight for everything you deserve.
Call (561) 296-9400 — free consultation, no fee unless we win. Hughes & Barnard Law Firm, PA.
The information on this page is for general educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Hughes and Barnard Law Firm, PA is a Florida law firm. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this page.